After years of eye-rolling at the call to close laptops and turn off phones during takeoffs and landings, airline passengers won a small victory Thursday when federal officials said they can keep devices on during "all phases of flight."

But there are some flickering caveats.

By the end of the year, passengers flying with airlines that adopt the new rules will be free to use electronic devices to watch movies, play games or stay glued to e-books.

But they still won't be allowed to make phone calls or connect to the Internet while the plane is on the ground, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Most airlines turn on Wi-Fi networks after a plane reaches 10,000 feet.

The regulation was one that long stumped travelers, said Paul Hudson, executive director of the advocacy group Flyers Rights.

Sought by customers

Passengers were told that electronic devices used below 10,000 feet could interfere with radio signals between pilots and air traffic controllers, which made little sense to the average consumer.

United and Southwest Airlines both plan to let customers use portable electronic devices before takeoffs and landings, in accordance with the federal rules change announced Thursday.

Both carriers acknowledged customers had asked for this change.

Chicago-based United, which operates its largest hub out of Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport, released a statement saying it will implement the new FAA policy "as safely and quickly as possible."

"We are excited to offer this new benefit because our customers tell us they want to use their portable electronic devices," the United statement reads.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines said in a statement that it had begun the legwork to permit this convenience before Thursday's announcement, and intends to file its plans with the FAA as quickly as possible.

Specifics are not yet complete, it said.

The Southwest statement said the use of personal devices on the plane was a factor in its Wi-Fi investment on the entire fleet of aircraft.

Long time coming

The FAA's current policy forces airline passengers to turn off most portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, laptops, tablet computers and e-readers, during takeoffs and landings - technically, below 10,000 feet. The reason given was that the devices might interfere with flight equipment.

However, surveys have showed that many passengers do not turn off their devices, either intentionally or accidentally. Critics have said the change is a long time coming, sometimes pointing to the fact that many airline pilots in the cockpit use iPads.